Befana- Epiphany - Epiphanie
6 GENNAIO - JANUARY 6TH - 6 JANVIER
La Befana, dal greco ἐπιφάνεια, epifáneia) attraverso bifanìa e befanìa, è una figura flcloristica e, direi, legata strettamente alla tradizione italiana solamente, legata alle festività del Natale e in particolare tipica di alcune regioni italiane e poi diffusasi in tutto il Paese . Secondo la tradizione, si tratta di una donna molto anziana che vola su una logora scopa, per fare visita ai bambini nella notte tra il 5 e il 6 gennaio (la notte dell'Epifania) e riempire le calze lasciate dagli stessi, appositamente appese sul camino o vicino a una finestra; Generalmente, i bambini che durante l'anno si sono comportati bene riceveranno dolciumi, caramelle, frutta secca o piccoli giocattoli. Al contrario, coloro che si sono comportati male troveranno le calze riempite con del carbone dolce o dell'aglio. Io, da piccola , lasciavo fuori della finestra della cucina, un bicchiere di latte e qualche biscottino che, ovviamente , la mattina non trovavo più!
In Italian folklore but I'd rather say "tradition", Befana is an old woman who delivers gifts to children throughout Italy on Epiphany Eve (the night of January 5) in a similar way to St.Nicola, St.Lucy or Santa Claus..
A popular belief is that her name derives from the Feat of Epiphany. Epiphany is a Latin word with Greek origins meaning "manifestation (of the divinity)." Some suggest that Befana is descended from the Sabine/Roman goddess named Strenia. Befana is pafrticularly popular in Rome and surroundings
In popular folklore, Befana visits all the children of Italy on the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany to fill their socks with candy. and presents if they are good, or a lump of sweet coal or dark candy if they are bad. In many poorer parts of Italy and in particular rural Sicily, a stick in a stocking was placed instead of coal. Being a good housekeeper, many say she will sweep the floor before she leaves. To some the sweeping meant the sweeping away of the problems of the year. The child's family typically leaves a small glass of wine and a plate with a few morsels of food, often regional or local, for the Befana. When I was a child I used to leave a glass of milk and some cookies out of the window ...which obviously disappeared during the night!
She is usually portrayed as a hag riding a broomstickthrough the air wearing a black shawl and is covered in soot because she enters the children's houses through the chimney. She is often smiling and carries a bag or hamper filled with candy, gifts, or both
La Befana est une figure du folklore italien mais je dirais de la "tradition" italienne. Son nom vient de la déformation d’Epiphanie, en italien Befana - Epifania.
La Befana appartient aux figures folkloriques, pourvue de dons, liés à la fête de la Nativité.La légende dit que la Befana passe dans chaque maison où vivent des enfants la nuit précédant l'Épiphanie (le 6 janvier). Ces derniers accrochent une chaussette pas loin de la cheminée ou de la fenêtre. Pour ceux ayant été bons et gentils au long de l'année, la Befana dépose dans leur chaussette des caramels ou des chocolats, en revanche, pour ceux qui n'ont pas été gentils elle remplit les chaussettes de charbon (en réalité, il s'agit aujourd'hui de sucre noir comestible ou de la réglisse qui ressemble au charbon)1. On avait la tradition de laisser une glasse de vin pour elle, mais moi , enore petite je laissais une glasse de lait et des biscuits qui naturellement le matin étaient disparu......
La Befana est souvent décrite comme une vieille femme volant sur son balai. Mais, à la différence d'une sorcière elle est souvent souriante et porte une bourse et un sac plein de bonbons, de cadeaux, mais aussi de charbon
VENEZIA-VENICE
PARMA
ROMA- ROME